JP7288992B2 - Deformable lacing guides for automated footwear platforms - Google Patents

Description

A deformable lace guide for automated footwear platforms.

The following specification describes various footwear assemblies with lacing systems including motorized or non-motorized lacing engines, footwear components associated with the lacing engines, automatic lacing footwear platforms, and associated manufacturing processes. aspects are described. More specifically, much of the following specification describes various lacing architectures and lacing guides used in footwear, including motorized or non-motorized lacing engines for centralized lacing tightening. Aspects are described.

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may represent like components in different figures. Similar numbers with different subscripts may represent different instances of similar components. The drawings schematically illustrate, by way of example and not by way of limitation, various embodiments described herein.

4 is an exploded view of some components of a footwear assembly having a power lacing system, according to some exemplary embodiments; FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a lacing architecture for use with a footwear assembly including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments; FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a flat footwear upper having a lacing architecture for use in a footwear assembly including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments; FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a flat footwear upper having a lacing architecture for use in a footwear assembly including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments; FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a flat footwear upper having a lacing architecture for use in a footwear assembly including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments; FIG. 11 illustrates a portion of a footwear upper having a lacing architecture for use in a footwear assembly including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments; FIG. 10 illustrates a portion of a footwear upper having a lacing architecture for use in a footwear assembly including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments; FIG. 10 illustrates a portion of a footwear upper having a lacing architecture for use in a footwear assembly including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments; FIG. 10 illustrates a portion of a footwear upper having a lacing architecture for use in a footwear assembly including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments; FIG. 11 illustrates a portion of a footwear upper having a lacing architecture for use in a footwear assembly including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments; 4A-4D illustrate deformable lace guides for use in footwear assemblies, according to some exemplary embodiments; 4A-4D illustrate deformable lace guides for use in footwear assemblies, according to some exemplary embodiments; 5A-5C are graphs showing various torque versus lacing displacement curves for a deformable lacing guide, according to some exemplary embodiments; 4A-4D illustrate lacing guides used in certain lacing architectures, according to some exemplary embodiments; 4A-4D illustrate lacing guides used in certain lacing architectures, according to some exemplary embodiments; 4A-4D illustrate lacing guides used in certain lacing architectures, according to some exemplary embodiments; 4A-4D illustrate lacing guides used in certain lacing architectures, according to some exemplary embodiments; 4A-4D illustrate lacing guides used in certain lacing architectures, according to some exemplary embodiments; 4A-4D illustrate lacing guides used in certain lacing architectures, according to some exemplary embodiments; 4A-4D illustrate lacing guides used in certain lacing architectures, according to some exemplary embodiments; 4 is a flowchart illustrating a footwear building process for footwear assembly including a lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments; 4 is a flowchart illustrating a footwear building process for footwear assembly including a lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments;

Any headings appearing in this document are for convenience only and do not necessarily affect the scope or meaning of the term used or the discussion under that heading.
The concept of self-tightening shoelaces was inspired by the 1989 movie "Back to
It was first popularized by the fictional electric lacing Nike® sneakers worn by Marty McFly in "Back to the Future II". Nike® has since released at least one version of its electric lacing sneaker, similar in appearance to the movie prop version of Back to the Future 2, but with an internal mechanical system and Peripheral footwear platforms are not necessarily suitable for mass production or everyday use. Additionally, other previous electric lacing system designs are costly to manufacture,
It suffers from considerable complexity, difficulty in assembly, and poor maintainability. The inventors have developed, among other things, a modular footwear platform compatible with electric and non-electric lacing engines that solves some or all of the problems listed above. and discussed briefly below and under the title "LACING APPRATUS FOR AUTOMATED FOORW
EAR PLATFORM).
To take full advantage of the modular lacing engine discussed in detail herein, the inventors have developed the lacing architecture discussed herein. The lacing architectures discussed herein can solve various problems faced by centralized lacing mechanisms, such as uneven tightening, fit, comfort and performance. The lacing architecture provides a variety of benefits including even lacing tension over longer lacing travel distances and improved comfort while maintaining fit performance. One aspect of increased comfort includes a lacing architecture that reduces pressure on the top of the foot. The exemplary lacing architecture can also improve fit and performance by manipulating lacing tension in both the medial-lateral direction and the anterior-posterior (longitudinal) direction. Various other benefits of the components described below will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The lacing architecture discussed was specifically developed to work in conjunction with a modular lacing engine located within the midsole portion of the footwear assembly. However, the concept could also be applied to powered and manual lacing mechanisms provided in various locations around the footwear, such as in the heel or even the toe of the footwear platform. . The lacing architectures discussed include the use of lacing guides that can be formed from tubular plastic, metal clips, fabric loops or channels, plastic clips and open U-shaped channels, among other shapes and materials. . In some embodiments, various different types of lacing guides can be mixed to perform specific lacing routing functions within the lacing architecture.

The electric lacing engine discussed below was developed from the ground up to provide a robust, practical and replaceable component of the automatic lacing footwear architecture. The lacing engine contains unique design elements that allow for final assembly into a modular footwear platform at the retail stage. The lacing engine design enables the majority of the footwear building process to utilize known building techniques, with unique adaptations to standard building processes while still allowing for the utilization of current building resources.

In one embodiment, a modular self-lacing footwear platform includes a midsole plate secured to the midsole to house a lacing engine. The midsole plate design allows the lacing engine to enter the footwear platform even as late as the point of purchase. The midsole plate and other aspects of the modular automated footwear platform allow different types of lacing engines to be used interchangeably. For example, the electric lacing engine discussed below could be replaced with a human powered lacing engine. Alternatively, a fully automatic electric lacing engine with foot presence sensing or any other functionality could be housed within a standard midsole plate.

Tightening athletic footwear utilizing a centralized lacing engine, powered or non-powered, presents several challenges in providing adequate performance without sacrificing some degree of comfort. The lacing architecture discussed in this paper has thus far been specifically designed for use with a centralized lacing engine and designed to enable a variety of footwear designs, from casual to high performance. .

This introductory summary is intended to introduce the subject matter of the present patent application. It is not intended to provide an exclusive or exhaustive description of the various inventions disclosed in the more detailed description below.

Automated Footwear Platform The following discusses various components of the automated footwear platform, including the power lacing engine, midsole plate, and various other components of the platform. Although most of this disclosure has focused on lacing architectures for use with electric lacing engines, the designs under discussion may include manual lacing engines, or additional or less capabilities. It is applicable to other electric lacing engines equipped with Accordingly, the term "automatic" as used in "automated footwear platform" is not intended to cover only systems that operate without user input. Rather, the term "automatic footwear platform" includes various motorized and human powered, automatically actuated and human actuated mechanisms for tightening the lacing or retention system of footwear.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of components of a power lacing system for footwear, according to some exemplary embodiments. The electric lacing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a lacing engine 10 , a lid 20 , an actuator 30 , a midsole plate 40 , a midsole 50 and an outsole 60 . FIG. 1 shows the basic assembly sequence of the components of the automatic lacing footwear platform. The power lacing system 1 begins with a midsole plate 40 secured within the midsole. Actuators 30 are then inserted into openings in the lateral side of the midsole plate opposite the interface buttons that can be embedded in outsole 60 . The lacing engine 10 is then placed within the midsole plate 40 . In one embodiment, the lacing system 1 is inserted under a continuous loop of lacing cable and the lacing cable is aligned with a spool within the lacing engine 10 (discussed below). Finally, the lid 20 connects the midsole plate 4
0 slot to lock in the closed position and latch into recesses in the midsole plate 40 . The lid 20 can capture the lacing engine 10 and help maintain alignment of the lacing cables during operation.

In one embodiment, the article of footwear or power lacing system 1 includes or is configured to interface with one or more sensors capable of monitoring or determining foot presence characteristics. . Footwear including power lacing system 1 can be configured to perform various functions based on information from one or more foot presence sensors. For example, a foot presence sensor can be configured to provide binary information regarding the presence or absence of a foot in footwear. If the binary signal from the foot presence sensor indicates that a foot is present, the motorized lacing system 1, for example, automatically tightens or loosens the footwear lacing cable (i.e. , loosen). In one example, the article of footwear includes processor circuitry that can receive or interpret signals from the foot presence sensor. The processor circuit may optionally be embedded within the lacing engine 10 or together with the lacing engine, for example, within the sole of an article of footwear.

LACING ARCHITECTURE FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary lacing configuration for an upper 2, according to some exemplary embodiments.
00 is a plan view. In this embodiment, the upper 205 includes, in addition to the lace 210 and the lacing engine 10, an outer lace anchor 215, an inner lace anchor 216,
An outer lacing guide 222, an inner lacing guide 220, and a brio cable.
cable) 225. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the diagonal lacing pattern is
A continuous knit fabric upper 20 containing non-overlapping inner and outer lace paths
contains 5. The lacing path begins at outer lacing anchor 215 , through outer lacing guide 222 , through lacing engine 10 and upwardly through inner lacing guide 220 to inner lacing anchor 216 . Formed back. In this example,
The lace 210 forms a continuous loop from the outer lace anchor 215 to the inner lace anchor 216 . In this embodiment, the inside-to-outside tightening is performed by the Brio cable 22
5. In other embodiments, the lacing paths may intersect or incorporate additional features to transmit the clamping force in the medial-lateral direction across upper 205 . Additionally, the continuous lace loop concept can be incorporated into more conventional uppers in which the central (inner) gap and the lace 210 intersect back and forth across the central gap.

3A-3C are plan views illustrating a flat footwear upper 305 using a lacing architecture 300 used in a footwear assembly that includes an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. To discuss an exemplary footwear upper, assume upper 305 is designed for incorporation into a right foot version of the footwear assembly. FIG. 3A is a plan view of a flat footwear upper 305 having a lacing architecture 300 as shown. In this example, footwear upper 305 includes a series of lace guides 320A through 320A with lace cable 310 passing through lace guides 320.
320J (collectively referred to as lacing guides 320). The lacing cable 310 is
In this example, the outer lacing anchor 345A and the inner lacing anchor 3, with the middle portion of the loop threaded into the lacing engine in the midsole of the footwear assembly.
Forms a loop that terminates on either side of upper 305 at 45B (collectively referred to as lacing anchor points 345). Upper 305 also includes reinforcements associated with each of a series of lacing guides 320 . The reinforcement can cover individual lacing guides or span multiple lacing guides. In this embodiment, the reinforcements include a central reinforcement 325, a first outer reinforcement 335A, a first inner reinforcement 335B, a second outer reinforcement 330A, and a second inner reinforcement 330B. including. The middle portion of the lacing cable 310 is routed to and from the lacing engine via outer rear lacing guides 315A and inner rear lacing guides 315B, or to and from the lacing engines. from the rear lacing guide and exits from or into upper 300 through outer lacing outlet 340A and inner lacing outlet 340B.

Upper 305 may include different portions, such as a forefoot (toe) portion 307 , a midfoot portion 308 and a heel portion 309 . The toe portion 307 corresponds to a joint that connects the metatarsal bone and the phalanx of the foot. Midfoot portion 308 may correspond to the arch area of the foot. heel part 3
09 may correspond to the rear or heel portion of the foot. The medial and lateral sides of the midfoot portion of upper 305 can include central portion 306 . In some common footwear designs, the midsection 306 has openings spanned by a cross (or similar) pattern of laces that allow the fit of the footwear upper around the foot to be adjusted. can contain. A central portion 306 that includes openings also facilitates entry and exit of the foot from the footwear assembly.

Lace guides 320 are tubular or channel structures for retaining lace cables 310 while passing lace cables 310 through patterns along each of the lateral and medial sides of upper 305 . In this example, the lacing guide 320:
U-shaped plastic tubes deployed in an essentially sinusoidal pattern that alternates back and forth along the medial and lateral sides of upper 305 . The number of cycles that the lace cable 310 completes can vary depending on the shoe size. Smaller sized footwear assemblies can only accommodate 1.5 cycles, and the exemplary upper 305 can be slid into the inner lacing guide 315B or the outer lacing guide 315A before entering the inner rear lace guide 315B or outer rear lace guide 315A.
Suitable for 2.5 cycles. The pattern is described as sinusoidal in nature because, in this example, at least the U-shaped guide has a wider profile than the peaks or valleys of a pure sinusoid. In other embodiments, a pattern closer to a pure sinusoidal pattern could be utilized (without extensive use of closely curved lacing guides,
A pure sine wave is not easily achieved with the lacing stretched between the lacing guides). The shape of the lacing guide 320 can be varied to produce different torque vs. lacing displacement curves, where torque is measured at the lacing engine in the midsole of the shoe. using a lacing guide with a tighter radius curve, or
Including a higher frequency wave pattern (eg, a higher number of cycles with more lacing guides) can result in changes to the torque vs. lacing displacement curve. For example, with a tighter radius lacing guide, the lacing cable experiences higher friction, which can result in a higher initial torque, thereby exceeding the torque vs. lacing displacement curve. It may appear to even out the torque. However, some embodiments utilize a lacing guide placement pattern or lacing guide design to help smooth out the torque vs. lacing displacement curve (e.g., low friction within the lacing guide). It may be more preferable to maintain a low initial torque level by keeping One such lacing guide design is discussed in connection with FIGS. 7A and 7B, and another alternative lacing guide design is discussed in connection with FIGS. 8A-8G. In addition to the lacing guides discussed in connection with these figures, the lacing guides can be made from plastic, polymer, metal or fabric. For example, layers of fabric can be used to form shaped channels for threading the lacing cable in a desired pattern. As discussed below, a combination of plastic or metal guides and fabric overlays can be used to create guide components for use in the lacing architectures discussed.

Referring to FIG. 3A, reinforcements 325, 335 and 330 are different lacing guides,
For example, shown in association with lacing guide 320 . In one embodiment, the reinforcement portion 335 can comprise a fabric impregnated with a heat-activated adhesive that can be applied over the top of the lace guides 320G, 320H, the process being a hot melt adhesive. It is sometimes called A reinforcement, such as reinforcement 325, can cover a number of lace guides, for example, in this example, six upper lace guides positioned adjacent a central portion of the footwear, eg, central portion 306. covering the In another embodiment, the reinforcing section 325 splits in the middle of the central section 306 to separate the lacing guides along the inner side of the central section 306 independently of the lacing guides along the outer side of the central section 306 . It is possible to construct two members covering the lacing guide. In yet another alternative embodiment, reinforcement 325 can be divided into six independent reinforcements covering individual lacing guides. The use of reinforcements can be varied to change the dynamics of interaction between the lace guide and the underlying footwear upper, eg, upper 305 . Reinforcements can also be attached to upper 305 in a variety of other ways, including stitching, adhesives, or a combination of mechanisms. The method of applying the reinforcement, along with the type of fabric or material used for the reinforcement, can also affect the friction experienced by the lacing cable passing through the lacing guide. For example, a stiffer material hot melted over other flexible lace guides can increase the friction experienced by the lace cable. In contrast, a flexible material deposited over the lacing guide can reduce friction by keeping the lacing guide more flexible.

As mentioned above, FIG. 3A shows inner and outer upper lacing guides (320A, 3).
20B, 320E, 320F, 320I and 320J) is shown as a single member central reinforcement 325. FIG. Reinforcements 325 may be added to an underlying footwear upper, upper 30 in this example.
Assuming a stiffer material with less flexibility than 5, the resulting midsection 306 of the footwear assembly would exhibit less forgiving fit characteristics. A stiffer, less forgiving central portion 306 may be desirable in some applications. However, in applications where greater flexibility across central portion 306 is desired, central reinforcement 325 can be split into two or more reinforcements. In certain applications, the segmented central stiffeners can be joined across central portion 306 using various flexible or elastic materials that allow for more configurations to fit central portion 306 . In some embodiments, upper 305 includes, for example, lacing guide 410 and elastic member 4 .
A small gap that runs the length of the central section 306 as shown at least in part in FIG. You can have it while you are there.

FIG. 3B is another plan view of a flat footwear upper 305 having a lacing architecture 300 as shown. In this example, footwear upper 305 includes reinforcement 3
25, 330 and 335 include similar lacing guide patterns including lacing guide 320 with modifications to the configurations. As noted above, changes to the stiffener configuration may result in at least slightly different fit characteristics and may also change the torque vs. lacing displacement curve.

FIG. 3C is an example of a series of lacing architectures illustrated for a flat footwear upper, according to example embodiments. Lacing architecture 300A shows a lacing guide pattern similar to the sinusoidal pattern described in connection with FIG. 3A, with individual reinforcements covering each individual lacing guide. The lacing architecture 300B is again a wavy lacing, also called parachute lacing, in which the elongated reinforcements covering the pair of upper lacing guides extend across the central portion and individual lower lacing guides. showing a pattern. Lacing architecture 300C is yet another wavy lacing pattern with a single central reinforcement. Lacing architecture 300D introduces a triangular lacing pattern in which individual reinforcements are cut to form a fit over individual lacing guides. Lacing architecture 300E shows a variation of the stiffener configuration in a triangular lacing pattern. Finally, lacing architecture 300F illustrates another variation in reinforcement configuration that includes a central reinforcement and an integrated lower reinforcement.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a portion of a footwear upper 405 having a lacing architecture 400 for use in a footwear assembly that includes an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. In this embodiment, the inner portion of upper 405 is shown with lacing guide 410 threading lacing cable 430 to inner exit guide 435 . The lacing guide 410 includes reinforcements 420 to form a lacing guide component 415 .
At least a portion of the lacing guide components are repositionable on the upper 405 . In one embodiment, the lacing guide component 415 is lined with hook-and-loop material and the upper 405 forms a surface capable of receiving the hook-and-loop material. In this embodiment, the lacing guide component 415 can be lined with hook portions with the upper 405 forming a knitted loop surface to receive the lacing guide component 415 . In another example, the lacing guide component 415 can have a track interface integrated to engage a track, eg, track 445 . Track-based integration provides the lace guide component 415 with safe and limited travel and motion options. For example, track 445 runs essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of central portion 450, allowing placement of lacing guide components 415 along the length of the track. In some embodiments, track 44
5 can run from the outer side to the inner side to hold the lacing guide components on either side of the central portion 450 . All lacing guide components 41
A similar track can be placed in place to hold 5, allowing adjustment in the limiting direction for all lace guides on the footwear upper 405.

Footwear upper 405 illustrates another exemplary lacing architecture that includes a central elastic member, eg, elastic member 440 . In these embodiments, at least the upper lacing guide components along the medial and lateral sides use elastic members to allow different footwear designs to achieve different levels of fit and performance. Connections can be made across the central portion 450 . For example, high performance basketball shoes that need to secure the foot through a wide range of lateral movements can use elastic members with a high modulus of elasticity to ensure a snug fit. In another example, running shoes may be designed to focus on comfort versus long-distance road running versus achieving high levels of lateral motion inhibition, so running shoes may have a low modulus. An elastic member with a modulus can be used. In certain embodiments, elastic member 440 may be replaceable with a mechanism that allows for adjustment of the level of elasticity;
Alternatively, the mechanism can be included. As mentioned above, in some embodiments, a footwear upper, e.g., upper 405, can include a gap along midsection 450 that at least partially separates the medial side and the lateral side. Even with a small gap along central portion 450, a resilient member, such as resilient member 440, can be used to span the gap.

Although FIG. 4 only illustrates a single track 445 or single elastic member 440, those elements replicate for any or all of the lacing guides in a particular lacing architecture. be able to.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a portion of a footwear upper 405 having a lacing architecture 400 for use in a footwear assembly that includes an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. In this embodiment, the central portion 450 shown in FIG. 4 has been replaced with a central closure mechanism 460, illustrated as central zipper 465 in this embodiment. The central closure mechanism is designed to allow a wider opening in footwear upper 405 for easy access. A central zipper 465 can be easily opened to allow foot entry and exit. In other examples, central closure 460 may be a hook-and-loop fastener, snap, clasp, toggle, secondary lacing, or some similar closure mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a portion of a footwear upper 405 having a lacing architecture 600 for use in a footwear assembly that includes an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. In this example, lacing architecture 600 adds heel lacing components 615 including heel lacing guide 610 and heel reinforcement 620 as well as heel redirect guide 610 and heel exit guide 635 . The heel redirect guide 610 directs the lacing cable 430 to the exiting last lacing guide 410 .
Shift towards the heel lacing component 615 . Heel lacing component 615
is formed from heel lacing guide 610 with heel reinforcement 620 . Heel lacing guide 610 is shown having a similar shape to lacing guides used elsewhere on upper 405 . However, in other embodiments, the heel lacing guide 6
10 may have other shapes or may include multiple lacing guides. In this embodiment, heel lacing component 615 is mounted on heel track 645 to allow adjustability of the position of heel lacing component 615 . As with the adjustable lacing guides described above, other mechanisms, such as hook-and-loop fasteners or equivalent fastening mechanisms, can be used to allow for adjustment of the positioning of the heel lacing component 615 .

In some embodiments, the upper 405 includes a heel raised portion 650 that can include a closure mechanism, similar to the central portion 450 described above. In embodiments having a heel closure mechanism, the heel closure mechanism is designed to enlarge the foot opening of a conventional footwear assembly to facilitate easy entry and exit from the footwear. moreover,
In some examples, the heel lacing component 615 (with or without a heel closure mechanism) can be connected across the heel ridge 650 to a matching heel lacing component on the opposite side. This connection can include an elastic member similar to elastic member 440 .

7A, 7B illustrate a footwear upper 405 having a lacing architecture 700 used in a footwear assembly including an electric lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments.
is a diagram showing a part of. In this example, lacing architecture 700 includes lacing 7
It includes a lacing guide 710 for threading 30 through. The lacing guide 710 can include an associated reinforcement 720 . In this embodiment, the lacing guide 710 is shown in FIG. 7A.
from the initial open position shown in FIG. 7B (for reference, phantom lines indicate opposite positions in each figure) to the flexed closed position shown in FIG. 7B. is configured as In this embodiment, the lacing guide 710 is approximately one position between the initial open and closed positions.
It includes an extension that exhibits four degrees of deflection. Other embodiments may exhibit some deflection between the initial and final positions (or shapes) of the lacing guide 710 . Tightening strap guide 7
A deflection of 10 occurs when the lace 730 is tightened. The deflection of the lacing guide 710 is controlled by applying some initial tension to the lacing 730 and by providing additional mechanisms for distributing the lacing tension during the tightening process. acts to even out the Thus, in the initial configuration of the flexed position, the lacing guide 710 creates some initial tension in the lacing cable, which also acts to take up slack in the lacing cable. As tightening of the lacing cable begins, the lacing guide 710 flexes or deforms.

The lacing guide 710 is a plastic or polymer tube in this example and can have different moduli of elasticity depending on the specific composition of the tubes. The modulus of elasticity of lace guide 710 , along with the configuration of reinforcement 720 , controls the amount of additional tension in lace 730 due to deflection of lace guide 710 . The elastic deformation of the ends (legs or extensions) of the lace guide 710 creates continuous tension in the lace 730 as the lace guide 710 attempts to return to its original shape. In some embodiments, the entire lacing guide flexes uniformly along the length of the lacing guide. In other embodiments, deflection occurs primarily in the U-shaped portion of the lace guide, with the extension remaining substantially straight. In yet another embodiment, the extension accommodates most deflection while its U-shaped portion remains relatively fixed.

A reinforcement 720 is attached over the lacing guide 710 in a manner that permits movement of the ends of the lacing guide 710 . In some embodiments, reinforcement 720 is applied by the hot-melt process described above, and the placement of the heat-activated adhesive allows for openings to allow flexing of lacing guide 710 . In other embodiments, reinforcements 720 can be sewn into place or can utilize a combination of adhesives and stitching. How the reinforcement 720 is attached or configured
It affects which part of the lacing guide will flex under the load from the lacing cable. In some embodiments, the hot melt is concentrated around the U-shaped portion of the lacing guide to allow the extensions (legs) to flex more freely.

Figures 7C and 7D illustrate a deformable lace guide 710 for use in footwear assemblies, according to some exemplary embodiments. In this example, FIGS. 7A and 7B
The lacing guide 710 introduced above in connection with is discussed in greater detail. Figure 7
C shows the lacing guide 710 in a first (open) state, which can be considered an undeformed state. FIG. 7D shows the lacing guide 710 in a second (closed/flexed) state, which can be considered a deformed state. The lacing guide 710 can include three different sections, eg, an intermediate section 712, a first extension 714, and a second extension 716. FIG. The lace guide 710 may also include a lace receiving opening 740 and a lace exit opening 742 . As noted above, the lacing guide 710 can have different moduli of elasticity, which control the level of deformation with a particular applied tension. In some embodiments, the lacing guide 710 may be configured with different sections having different moduli of elasticity, for example, the middle section 712 having a first modulus of elasticity and the first extension having a second modulus of elasticity. modulus, and the second extension may be configured with a third modulus of elasticity. In certain embodiments, the second and third elastic moduli can be substantially the same, resulting in similar flexing or deformation of the first extension and the second extension. In this example, "substantially similar" can be interpreted as those elastic moduli that are within a few percent of each other. In some embodiments, the lacing guide 710 has a variable modulus of elasticity that varies from a high modulus at the apex 746 to a low modulus toward the outer ends of the first and second extensions. can be done. In these examples, the coefficients may vary based on the wall thickness of the lacing guide 710 .

The lacing guide 710 defines a number of useful axes to describe how the deformable lacing guide works. For example, the first extension 714 can define a first incoming lace axis 750 that extends at least the length of the inner channel defined within the first extension 714 . Aligned with the outer portion. Second extension 716 defines a first exiting lacing axis 760 that is aligned with at least the outer portion of the inner channel defined within second extension 716 . are aligned. Lacing guide 710
, when deformed, a second incoming lacing axis 752 and a second outgoing lacing axis 762
, each of which is aligned with a respective portion of the first extension and the second extension. The lacing guide 710 also intersects the lacing guide 710 at an apex 746 and the intermediate axis 7 is equidistant from the first extension and the second extension.
44 (assuming a symmetrical lacing guide in its undeformed state, as shown in FIG. 7C).

FIG. 7E is a graph 770 showing various torque versus lace displacement curves for a deformable lace guide, according to some exemplary embodiments. As mentioned above, one of the benefits achieved with the lacing guide 710 is the torque (or lacing tension)
Including modifying the vs. lacing displacement (or foreshortening) curve. Curve 776 shows the torque versus displacement curve for a non-deformable lacing guide used in an exemplary lacing architecture. Curve 776 shows how the lace undergoes a rapid increase in tension for a short displacement near the end of the tightening process. In contrast, curve 778 shows the torque versus displacement curve for the first deformable lacing guide used in the exemplary lacing architecture. Cure 778 begins in a similar fashion to curve 776, but as the lace guide deforms with additional lace tension, the curve flattens out to provide increasing tension over larger lace displacements. Flattening the curve allows more control over the fit and performance of the footwear for the end user.

The final example is divided into three segments: an initial tightening segment 780, an adaptation segment 782, and a reaction segment 784. Segments 780, 782
, 784 can be utilized in any situation where torque and resulting displacement are desired. However, the reaction segment 784 is particularly useful in situations where the power lacing engine implements abrupt changes or corrections in lacing displacement to unanticipated external factors, e.g., when the wearer suddenly stops moving and compares It can be used in situations where significant loads are applied to the laces. In contrast, the adaptive segment 782 can anticipate changes in the load on the laces, so that, for example, changes in load may not be as drastic, or changes in activity may be caused by the wearer's power laces. To be used where more gradual displacement of the lacing could be utilized, as input to the lacing engine, or because the electric lacing engine can predict changes in activity through machine learning. can be done. The design of the deformable lacing guide resulting in this last embodiment is such that the structural design of the lacing guide (e.g., channel geometry, material selection, or combination of parameters) produces adaptive segment 782 and reactive segment 784. Designed. The lacing architecture and lacing guides that result in the last example also create a pre-tension in the lacing cable that results in the initial lacing segment 780 shown.

8A-8F are diagrams illustrating an exemplary lacing guide 800 for use with particular lacing architectures, according to some exemplary embodiments. In this embodiment an alternative lacing guide is shown having an open lacing channel. The lacing guide 800 described below can be substituted in any of the lacing architectures described above with respect to the lacing guide 410 , the heel lacing guide 610 , or even the inner exit guide 435 . All of the various configurations described above are not repeated here for the sake of completeness. The lacing guide 800 includes a guide tab 805 , a stitch opening 810 , a top guide surface 815 , a lacing retainer 820 and a lacing channel 800 .
25 , channel radius 830 , lacing access opening 840 , guide lower surface 845 , and guide radius 850 . open channel lacing guide, e.g. lacing guide 8
00 advantages include the ability to easily thread the lace cable after installation of the lace guide to the footwear upper. In the case of the tubular lacing guides illustrated in many of the lacing architecture embodiments described above, passing the lacing cable through the lacing guide is (if not later impracticable) is most easily achieved prior to attaching to the footwear upper. The open channel lacing guide simplifies lacing by allowing the lacing cable to simply be threaded alongside the lacing retainer 820 after the lacing guide 800 has been placed on the footwear upper. Facilitates lace routing. The lacing guide 800 can be made from a variety of materials including metal or plastic.

In this example, the lacing guide 800 may first be attached to the footwear upper by sewing or adhesive. The illustrated design includes stitch openings 810 configured to allow simple manual or automatic sewing of the lacing guide 800 to the footwear upper (or similar material). Once the lacing guide 800 is attached to the footwear upper, the lacing cable can be routed by simply pulling the loop of the lacing cable into the lacing channel 825 . Lacing access opening 84
0 extends through the lower surface 845 to form a relief recess for the lacing cable to move about the lacing retainer 820 . In some embodiments, the lacing retainer 820 can be sized differently or even divided into multiple smaller projections. In one embodiment, the lacing retainer 820 can be narrower, but can also extend toward the access opening 840 or even into the access opening. In some embodiments, the access opening 840 can be sized differently and is typically located within the lacing retainer 82 (as shown in FIG. 8F).
Somewhat similar to the shape of 0. In this embodiment, channel radius 830 is designed to match or be slightly larger than the diameter of the lacing cable. Channel radius 830 is one of the parameters of lacing guide 800 that can control the amount of friction experienced by the lacing cable passing through lacing guide 800 . Another parameter of the lacing guide 800 that affects the friction experienced by the lacing cable includes guide radius 850 . Guide radius 850 can also affect the frequency or spacing of lace guides placed on the footwear upper.

8G illustrates a portion of footwear upper 405 with lacing architecture 890 using lacing guide 800, according to some exemplary embodiments. In this example, a plurality of lacing guides 8 are provided to form one half of the lacing architecture 890 .
00 is located on the lateral side of footwear upper 405 . Similar to the lacing architectures described above, the lacing architecture 890 uses the lacing guide 800 to create a corrugated or parachute lacing pattern for routing the lacing cable. One of the benefits of this type of lacing architecture is that the lacing cinching can produce both back-to-medial cinching and front-to-back cinching of the footwear upper 405 .

In this embodiment, lacing guide 800 is attached to upper 405 at least initially by stitching 860 . Sewing 860 is shown covering or engaging stitch opening 810 . One of the lacing guides 800 also has a reinforced portion 87
0 is drawn over the lacing guide. Such reinforcements can be placed individually on each of the lacing guides 800 . Alternatively, a larger reinforcement,
It could be used to cover multiple lacing guides. Similar to the reinforcements described above, the reinforcements 870 can be attached via glue, heat activated adhesive and/or stitching. In some embodiments, reinforcement 870 is (heat-activated or not)
It can be attached using an adhesive and a vacuum bagging process that uniformly compresses the reinforcement covering the lacing guide. A similar vacuum bagging process can also be used for the stiffeners and lacing guides described above. In other embodiments, a mechanical press or similar machine can be used to help adhere the reinforcement over the lacing guide.

Once all the lacing guides 800 have been initially positioned and attached to the footwear upper 405, the lacing cables can be threaded through those lacing guides. The routing of the lacing cable can begin by securing the first end of the lacing cable at the outer anchor point 470 . In that case, a lacing cable can be drawn into each lacing channel 825 starting at the forwardmost lacing guide and progressing rearwardly toward the heel of upper 405 . Once the lacing cables have been threaded through all of the lacing guides 800, a stiffener 870 is optionally added to each of the lacing guides 800 to secure both the lacing guides and the lacing cables. It can be covered and attached.

Assembly Process FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a footwear assembly process 900 for assembling footwear including a lacing engine, according to some exemplary embodiments. In this example, the assembly process 900 includes, at 910, obtaining a footwear upper, a lace guide, and a lace cable; at 920, threading the lace cable through a tubular lace guide; Securing a first end of, at 940,
securing the second end of the lacing cable; at 950, positioning the lacing guide; at 960, securing the lacing guide; and at 970,
Including actions such as integrating the upper with the footwear assembly. Process 900, described in more detail below, may include some or all of the process operations described, and at least some of the process operations may be performed in various locations and with different automated tools. or at various locations or using different automated tools.

In this example, process 900 begins at 910 by obtaining a footwear upper, a plurality of lacing guides, and a lacing cable. A footwear upper, e.g., upper 405, includes the remainder of the footwear assembly (e.g., sole, midsole, outer cover, etc.).
can be a flat footwear upper independent of the The lacing guides in this embodiment comprise tubular plastic lacing guides as described above, but could also include other types of lacing guides. At 920, process 900 continues with the lacing cable threaded through a plurality of lacing guides. The lacing cables can be threaded through the lacing guides at various points in the assembly process 900, but if a tubular lacing guide is used, the lacing can be threaded through the lacing guides prior to assembly to the footwear upper. may be preferred. In some embodiments, process 900 includes 91
The lacing guides can be threaded through the lacing cable in advance, having already begun threading the lacing guides through the lacing obtained during operation 0.

At 930, process 900 continues with the first end of the lacing cable secured to the footwear upper. For example, lacing cables 430 can be secured along the outer edge of upper 405 . In some examples, the lacing cables may be temporarily secured to upper 405 with a more permanent fixation achieved during integration of the footwear upper with the rest of the footwear assembly. At 940, process 900 continues with the second end of the lace cable secured to the footwear upper. Similar to the first end of the lacing cable, the second end can be temporarily secured to the upper. Additionally, process 900 can optionally delay securing the second end until later in the process or until during integration with the footwear assembly.

At 950, process 900 continues with a plurality of lacing guides disposed on the upper. For example, a lacing guide 410 can be placed on upper 405 to create a desired lacing pattern. Once the lacing guide is in place, process 900 can continue at 960 by securing the lacing guide onto the footwear upper. For example, the stiffener 420 can be secured over the lacing guide 410 to hold the lacing guide 410 in place. Finally, process 900 may complete at 970 with integrating the footwear upper with the rest of the footwear assembly, including the sole. In one embodiment, the integration positions the loops of the lacing cable connecting the lateral and medial sides of the footwear upper to engage the lacing engine in the midsole of the footwear assembly. locating.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a footwear assembly process 1000 for assembling footwear including multiple lacing guides, according to some exemplary embodiments. In this example, the assembly process 1000 includes, at 1010, obtaining a footwear upper, a lacing guide, and a lacing cable; at 1020, attaching the lacing guide onto the footwear upper; fixing a first end of
At 1040, threading the lacing cable through the lacing guide;
Operations such as securing a second end of the lacing cable, optionally attaching a reinforcement over the lacing guide at 1060, and integrating the upper with the footwear assembly at 1070. including. Process 100, described in more detail below
0 may include some or all of the described process operations, and at least some of the process operations may be performed at various locations and with different automated tools or at various It can be done on site or with different automated tools.

In this example, process 1000 begins at 1010 by obtaining a footwear upper, a plurality of lacing guides, and a lacing cable. A footwear upper, e.g., upper 405, can be a flat footwear upper that is independent of the rest of the footwear assembly (e.g., sole, midsole, outer cover, etc.). The lacing guide, in this embodiment, comprises an open channel plastic lacing guide as described above, but could also comprise other types of lacing guides. At 1020, process 1000 includes:
Continuing with the lacing guide that is fixed to the upper. For example, the lacing guide 800
can be individually sewn to appropriate locations on upper 405 .

At 1030, process 1000 continues with the first end of the lacing cable secured to the footwear upper. For example, lacing cables 430 can be secured along the outer edge of upper 405 . In some examples, the lacing cable comprises:
It may be temporarily secured to upper 405, with a more permanent fixation being achieved during integration of the footwear upper with the rest of the footwear assembly. At 1040, process 1000
continues with the lacing cable threaded through the open channel lacing guide, which provides a lacing loop between the lateral and medial sides of the footwear upper for engagement with the lacing engine. including leaving The lace loops may be of a predetermined length to ensure that the lacing engine can properly tighten the assembled footwear.

At 1050, process 1000 can continue with a second end of the lacing cable secured to the footwear upper. As with the first end of the lacing cable,
The second end can be temporarily secured to the upper. Additionally, process 1000 optionally continues until later in the process or during integration with the footwear assembly.
The fixation of the second end can be delayed. In a particular embodiment, the first of the lacing cables
Delaying the fixation of the end and the second end or the first end or the second end of
Adjustment of the overall length of the lacing can be allowed, which can be useful during integration of the lacing engine.

At 1060, process 1000 can optionally include securing fabric reinforcements (covers) over the lace guides to further secure them to the footwear upper. For example, the lacing guide 800 can have a reinforcement 870 hot melted over the lacing guide to further secure the lacing guide and the lacing cable. Finally, process 1000 may complete at 1070 integrating the footwear upper with the rest of the footwear assembly, including the sole. In one embodiment,
The integration involves positioning loops of the lacing cable connecting the lateral and medial sides of the footwear upper to engage a lacing engine within the midsole of the footwear assembly. be able to.

EXAMPLES The present inventors have recognized, among other things, a need for an improved lacing architecture for automatic and semi-automatic tightening of shoe laces. This document describes, among other things, an exemplary lacing architecture, exemplary lacing guides used in that lacing architecture, and associated assembly techniques for an automated footwear platform. The following examples provide non-limiting examples of actuators and footwear assemblies discussed herein.

Example 1 describes a subject that includes a lacing guide. In this embodiment, the lacing guide is deformable to help facilitate automated lacing tightening. The lacing guide can include an intermediate section, a first extension, and a second extension. The intermediate section may include an internal channel curved at a first radius and dimensioned to receive a lacing cable. A first extension extends from the first end of the intermediate section defining a first incoming lace axis along at least a portion of the internal channel extending through the first extension. be able to. The first extension may be configured to receive a lacing cable through the lacing receiving opening opposite the first end of the intermediate section. A second extension extends from the second end of the intermediate section defining a first exiting lace axis along at least a portion of the internal channel extending through the second extension. can be done. The second extension may be configured to receive the lacing cable from the intermediate section and pass the lacing cable through the lacing exit opening along the first exiting lacing axis. In this embodiment, the lacing guide can be configured to define a first route for the lacing cable, the first route along the first incoming lacing axis. Receiving a lacing cable and exiting the lacing cable along a first exiting lacing axis. In this embodiment, the lacing guide flexes in response to tension on the lacing cable to provide a second guide for the lacing cable.
a second route for receiving the lacing cable along a second incoming lacing axis and a second route for receiving the lacing cable along a second outgoing lacing axis. and exiting the lacing cable.

In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 can optionally include a lacing guide that induces pre-tension in the lacing cable by defining a first route.
In Example 3, the subject of any one of Examples 1 and 2 intersects the vertices of the intermediate section and the first incoming lacing axis and the first outgoing lacing axis. A lacing guide having an inner axis aligned therebetween may optionally be included. In this example, tension on the lacing cable can produce a resulting force vector aligned with the inner axis to cause deflection of the lacing guide that is symmetrical about the inner axis.

In Example 4, the subject of any one of Examples 1 and 2 intersects the vertex of the intermediate section and the first incoming lacing axis and the first outgoing lacing axis. A lacing guide having an inner axis aligned therebetween may optionally be included. In this example, tension on the lacing cable that causes the lacing guide to flex produces a resulting force vector that is not aligned with the inner axis, resulting in an asymmetrical lacing guide about the inner axis. Deflection can occur.

In Example 5, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-4 can optionally include an internal channel of tubular construction defining a cylindrical cross-section extending through at least the intermediate section. can.

In Example 6, the subject matter of Example 5 can optionally include a first extension and a second extension that together extend the tubular structure of the inner channel.
In Example 7, the subject of any one of Examples 1-6 is the intermediate section having a first modulus of elasticity, the first extension having a second modulus of elasticity, and the third modulus of elasticity. a second with
can optionally be included.

In Example 8, the subject of Example 7 is that the second modulus of elasticity is substantially the same as the third modulus of elasticity, and the first extension and the second extension are of the lacing guide. It can optionally include providing deflection by substantially the same amount in response to tension on the lacing cable aligned with the inner axis.

In Example 9, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-8 optionally wherein the internal channel is an open channel structure defining a U-shaped cross-section extending through at least the intermediate compartment. Can be included in options.

In Example 10, the subject matter of Example 9 can optionally include a first extension and a second extension that together extend the open channel structure of the inner channel.
In Example 11, the subject matter of Example 10 can optionally include a lacing cable loaded into the lacing guide via the open channel structure of the internal channel.

Example 12 describes subject matter that includes a footwear assembly that includes a plurality of deformable lace guides. In this example, a footwear assembly can include a footwear upper, a lacing cable, and a plurality of deformable lacing guides. The footwear upper can include a toecap, a medial side, a lateral side, and a heel, the medial and lateral sides each extending contiguously from the toecap to the heel. ing. The lacing cable can include a first end secured along the distal exterior of the medial side and a second end secured along the distal exterior of the lateral side. A plurality of deformable lacing guides can be positioned along the medial and lateral sides. Each deformable lacing guide of the plurality of deformable lacing guides can be adapted to receive a length of lacing cable. Each of the deformable lacing guides can form a first shape in response to a first tension on the lacing cable and a second shape in response to a second tension on the lacing cable. In this embodiment, each deformable lacing guide is operable to contribute to a first tension in a first shape.

In Example 13, the subject matter of Example 12 can optionally include the second tension being greater than the first tension, and the change in tension being produced by shortening the overall length of the lacing cable. can. In some examples, the shortening of the overall length of the lacing cable can be performed by a power lacing engine within the footwear assembly.

In Example 14, the subject matter of Example 13 is that the deformation of each deformable lacing guide of the plurality of deformable lacing guides from a first shape to a second shape reduces cable tension versus shortening length. Acting to smooth the curve can optionally be included.

In Example 15, the subject matter of any one of Examples 12-14 can optionally include each deformable lacing guide being a tubular structure having a cylindrical cross-section.

In Example 16, the subject of any one of Examples 12-15, wherein each deformable lacing guide of the plurality of deformable lacing guides comprises a curved intermediate section and a first optionally including being a U-shaped lacing guide including a first extension extending from the end and a second extension extending from the second end of the intermediate section can.

In Example 17, the subject matter of Example 16 is substantially Uniform deformation can optionally be included. In some embodiments, the first extension portion, intermediate section and second extension portion all have similar moduli of elasticity.

In Example 18, the subject matter of Example 16 is that the first extension and the second extension extend from the first
can optionally include substantially uniformly deforming in response to the change in tension from the tension of the tension to the second tension. In this embodiment, the first extension and the second extension have similar moduli of elasticity.

In Example 19, the subject matter of Example 18 can optionally include the intermediate section exhibiting negligible deformation between the first shape and the second shape in response to changes in tension. .
In Example 20, the subject of any one of Examples 12-19 is the method wherein a first deformable lacing guide of the plurality of deformable lacing guides comprises a first deformable lacing guide in response to a first tension. It can optionally include having a first modulus of elasticity that results in formation of one shape and a second shape in response to a second tension. In this example, a second deformable lacing guide of the plurality of deformable lacing guides has a third shape and a second shape in response to a first tension.
can have a second modulus of elasticity that results in the formation of a fourth shape in response to tension in the body.

Note Throughout this specification, multiple instances refer to components described as a single instance,
An action or structure can be implemented. Although separate acts of one or more methods are illustrated and described as separate acts, one or more of the separate acts may be performed concurrently and those acts may be described as separate acts. They don't have to be executed in the order they appear. Structures and functions presented as separate components in exemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functions presented as a single component may be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions and improvements are within the scope of the subject matter herein.

Although the subject matter of the present invention has been described in terms of specific illustrative embodiments, various modifications and variations may be made thereto without departing from the broader scope of the disclosed embodiments. you can go Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter, individually or collectively, voluntarily extend the scope of this application to any one disclosure or inventive concept, for convenience, and in fact more than one is disclosed. may be referred to simply by the term "invention" without intending to be limiting.

The embodiments illustrated herein are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosed teachings. Other embodiments may be used and may be derived therefrom such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure should not be construed as limiting, and the scope of various embodiments includes the full range of equivalents to which the disclosed subject matter is entitled.

The term "or", as used herein, may be interpreted in either an inclusive or exclusive sense. Moreover, multiple instances may be provided for a resource, act, or structure that is described as a single instance herein. Also, the boundaries between various resources, behaviors, modules, engines and datastores are somewhat arbitrary and
Specific operations are illustrated in the context of particular exemplary configurations. Other allocations of functionality are envisioned and may fall within the scope of various embodiments of this disclosure. Typically,
Structures and functionality presented as separate resources in exemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or resource. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single resource may be implemented as independent resources. These and other variations, modifications, additions and improvements fall within the scope of the embodiments of the disclosure as indicated by the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Each of these non-limiting examples can stand alone or can be combined in various permutations or combinations with one or more of the other examples.
The above detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings that form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show, by way of example, specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. Those embodiments are also referred to herein as examples. Such examples can include elements in addition to those shown or described. However, the inventors also contemplate embodiments in which only the elements shown or described are provided. In addition, the inventors are directed to certain embodiments (or one or more aspects thereof), or
Other embodiments (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or described herein
Embodiments using any combination or permutation of those elements (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or described with respect to are also envisioned.

In the event of conflicting usage between this document and any document incorporated by reference, the usage in this document shall control.
In this document, the term "a" means one or one, irrespective of any other instance or usage of "at least one" or "one or more," as commonly found in patent documents. used to include more than one In this document, the term "or" is used to refer to non-exclusive or unless otherwise specified, "A or B" means "A but not B", "A but is used to include "B" and "A and B". In this document, the terms "including" and "in" are used as plain English equivalents for the terms "comprising" and "wherein" respectively. Also, in the following claims, the terms "including" and "comprising" are open-ended, i.e., systems, devices, including elements in addition to those listed after such term in the claim. Articles, compositions, designs or processes are still considered to be within the scope of the claims. Furthermore, in the following claims, terms such as "first", "second" and "third" are used merely as designations and refer to numerical requirements for their objects. I have no intention of imposing.

Embodiments of methods (processes) described herein, eg, footwear assembly embodiments, can include at least in part mechanical or robotic implementation.
The descriptions above are intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (or one or more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Other embodiments can be used, for example, upon review of the above description by one of ordinary skill in the art. Abstracts, if any, are included to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Also, in the above description, various features may be grouped together to simplify the disclosure. This should not be interpreted to mean that an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a particular embodiment disclosed. Thus, the following claims are incorporated by reference into this Detailed Description as examples or embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment and such embodiment. can be combined with each other in various combinations or permutations. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Claims (19)

1. A footwear upper including a lacing architecture for routing a lacing cable along a medial side or a lateral side of the footwear upper, said lacing architecture including a plurality of deformable lacing guides, said plurality of deformables. a footwear upper, each deformable lacing guide of the lacing guides including a receiving extension and a delivery extension that transitions between an open state and a closed state;
a lacing engine including a drive mechanism for adjusting an effective length of said lacing cable between a first length and a second length, said first length being longer than said second length; a lacing engine;
with
The plurality of deformable lacing guides transition to the open state in response to the lacing engine adjusting the lacing cable to the first length and the plurality of deformable lacing guides. transitions to the closed state in response to the lacing engine adjusting the lacing cable to the second length;
The plurality of deformable lacing guides in the open state define a first route for the lacing cable, and the plurality of deformable lacing guides in the closed state define a first route for the lacing cable. A footwear device that defines a second route for a cable. The first route traverses a first path between adjacent deformable lacing guides not aligned with a receiving axis along the receiving extension or a delivery axis along the delivery extension. 11. The footwear device of claim 1, comprising: The second route traverses a second path between adjacent deformable lacing guides aligned with a receiving axis along the receiving extension or a delivery axis along the delivery extension. 11. The footwear device of claim 1, comprising: the plurality of deformable lacing guides apply a first tension to the lacing cable as the lacing cable is adjusted to the first length by the lacing engine;
The plurality of deformable lacing guides apply a second tension to the lacing cable when the lacing cable is adjusted to the second length by the lacing engine; The footwear device of claim 1, wherein is greater than the first tension. The lacing architecture includes deformable lacing guides distributed in an alternating pattern that pass the lacing cable in an undulating pattern that cycles up and down along the medial side or the lateral side of the footwear upper. 11. The footwear device of claim 1, comprising: 6. The footwear apparatus of claim 5, wherein the alternating pattern of routing the lacing cable does not traverse a central portion of the footwear upper. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the alternating pattern of deformable lacing guides routes the lacing cable through at least two cycles of the wave pattern along the medial side or the lateral side of the footwear upper. footwear equipment. 6. The footwear device of claim 5, wherein the wave pattern is a sinusoidal wave pattern when the plurality of deformable lacing guides are in the closed state. each deformable lacing guide of the plurality of deformable lacing guides includes an intermediate section joining the receiving extension and the delivery extension;
3. The footwear device of claim 1, wherein the intermediate section has a first modulus of elasticity, the receiving extension has a second modulus of elasticity, and the delivery extension has a third modulus of elasticity. The second modulus of elasticity is substantially the same as the third modulus of elasticity such that the receiving extension and the delivery extension extend substantially the same amount in response to tension in the lacing cable. 10. The footwear device of claim 9, wherein the footwear device bends by . 1. A footwear upper including a toecap, a medial side, a lateral side, and a heel, wherein the medial side and the lateral side each extend from the toebox to the heel. a footwear upper extending through the
a lacing cable having a first end secured along a distal exterior of the medial side and a second end secured along a distal exterior of the lateral side;
a plurality of deformable lacing guides disposed along said inner side and said outer side, each deformable lacing guide of said plurality of deformable lacing guides being adapted for said lacing cable; wherein each deformable lacing guide assumes a first shape in response to a first tension on said lacing cable and a second tension on said lacing cable. a plurality of deformable lacing guides responsively forming a second shape, each deformable lacing guide acting to contribute to said first tension in said first shape;
A footwear assembly comprising: 12. The footwear assembly of claim 11 , wherein the second tension is greater than the first tension and a change in tension is caused by shortening the overall length of the lacing cable. Deformation of each deformable lacing guide of the plurality of deformable lacing guides from the first shape to the second shape causes the effective length of the lacing cable to be reduced by a lacing engine. 13. The footwear assembly of claim 12 , wherein the lacing cable acts to reduce the rate of increase in tension in the lace cable . 12. The footwear assembly of claim 11 , wherein each deformable lacing guide is a tubular structure having a cylindrical cross-section. Each deformable lacing guide of the plurality of lacing guides has a curved intermediate section, a first extension extending from a first end of the intermediate section, and a second end of the intermediate section. 12. The footwear assembly of claim 11 , wherein the U-shaped lacing guide includes a second extension extending from the portion. 16. The first extension, the intermediate section and the second extension all deform substantially uniformly in response to a change in tension from the first tension to the second tension. The footwear assembly described in . 16. The footwear assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first extension and the second extension deform substantially uniformly in response to a change in tension from the first tension to the second tension. . 18. The footwear assembly of claim 17 , wherein the intermediate section exhibits negligible deformation between the first shape and the second shape in response to changes in tension. A first deformable lacing guide of the plurality of deformable lacing guides forms the first shape in response to the first tension and the second shape in response to the second tension. having a first elastic modulus that provides
A second deformable lacing guide of the plurality of lacing guides results in formation of a third shape in response to the first tension and a fourth shape in response to the second tension. 12. The footwear assembly of claim 11 , having a modulus of elasticity.

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